Lyophilization
Embodiments of methods, systems, and apparatuses for lyophilizing, storing, and transfusing materials are described. In embodiments, the materials may include whole blood or a component of whole blood such as plasma.
1. A method of lyophilizing material, the method comprising:
maintaining a material in a container;
subjecting the material to a first pressure;
evaporating at least a portion of a liquid component of the material while adding thermal energy to the material;
cooling the material to freeze any remaining liquid component into a solid;
pressing the material during the cooling by physical contact between a pressing means and an upper portion of the container and and physical contact between the upper portion of the container and the material thereby controlling a cross-section of the material to reduce variation in cross section of the material;
subjecting the material to a second pressure which is less than the first pressure; and
sublimating a portion of the solid while adding thermal energy to the material.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sublimating comprises adding IR energy to the material.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the pressing means is a shelf system.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the pressing means is a flexible bladder.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the flexible bladder may be filled with a fluid.